Nicola Cencherle
Nicola Cencherle (?-). Italian-born opera singer.
Contents
Biography
Nicola Cencherle, known as Nicky, was born in Schio, Italy. He immigrated to South Africa with his parents at an early age. He began singing lessons at age of 18 with Xander Haagen at Pretoria University and later with Alessandro Rota. He was also a student of Désirée Talbot.
Returning to Italy in 1971, Cencherle won the Teatro Nuovo Competition in Milano and made his Italian debut in Lucia di Lammermoor, following with Il tabarro, L'amico Fritz and Simon Boccanegra. During this time CAPAB Opera brought him back twice to sing in Lucia di Lammermoor and La traviata.
After seven years in Italy he returned to South Africa.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
He joined PACOFS at the age of 25. His operatic debut was as Cavaradossi. Later he sang Rodolfo, Pinkerton, Duca, Alfredo, Pollione, José and Riccardo.
Following his time in Italy, he joined CAPAB where he was a member of the permanent company for 18 years.
His repertoire varied from opera, operetta, Neapolitan & Italian songs to popular ballads. He sang for radio concerts, film & television. Cencherle enjoyed a wonderful singing career in and around Cape Town, either as a solo performer or in various ensembles.
As an opera singer
Productions/roles included: "Rodolfo" in La Bohème, "Pollione" in Norma (PACOFS, 1972).
As singer
Cencherle possessed a lirico-spinto tenor voice of true Italian quality and style.
Together with German Bernd Ruckemesser and Ronnie Theys, Cencherle formed the Three Tenors in the mid 1990s. They performed regularly around South Africa, including performances at the Sun City Super Bowl, the Grahamstown Festival, and at the V&A Waterfront and Artscape with the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra.
Sources
https://www.historicaltenors.net/italian/cencherle.html
'Cape Town's Three Tenors in PE'. news24. 14 November 2000.
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